ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · wake · mouse · firm · ruler · spring · degree · charge

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. firm — decided
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. firm — steady
  5. spring — of water
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. degree — from a university
  8. spring — the season
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wake — a trail
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. charge — in control
  14. degree — temperature
  15. charge — electricity
  16. degree — an amount
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. spring — a coil
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. charge — a price
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. firm — a company

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com